“It always seems impossible until it is done.”— Nelson Mandela
The abruptness of the season change this past week caused an automatic reaction in me.
For us, August was often quite hot with a ‘dog days’ level of humidity. The first week of September was much cooler. Crickets and cicadas now dominate the soundscape. We can sense autumn approaching. Summer fruits are nearing the end and fall apples are starting to get ripe. By reflex, we began cleaning out summer items and preparing for the fall season.
This change of season is a signal for me to look up and look out at the approaching end of the year horizon for my business and the businesses of my clients.
2021 has been a challenging year for many leaders. The ongoing pandemic and all its associated repercussions are a continuing underlying stress. They also create many barriers that prevent business as usual.
Here are three things to do to inspire your teams and yourself to find the right rhythm to finish 2021 with style.
Celebrate how far you have come. Look back at the last eight months. You may not have achieved everything that was planned, but I am certain that much has been accomplished. This has been done while leaping over tremendous obstacles. Take a moment to recognize these accomplishments for yourself and for those you lead.
Re-motivate on your goals for year-end. Consider the goals you and your teams had at the start of the year. Are they still possible? Have you already over-achieved? Whichever way they fall, work together to update your goals. Define what you want to accomplish in 2021 and how you want to start 2022.
Update your plans for September to lead into a magnificent final quarter of 2021. I love the Nelson Mandela quote. So often I see people with intentions I thought were impossible. People have seen my big ambitious goals and thought they were unattainable. The thing is, they are impossible until we aspire to them. They cannot become a reality until we put a plan in place and work relentlessly to make them possible.
Enjoy the change of seasons. Let’s work to keep moving forward and doing good in the world.
Yours in the calm pursuit of excellence,
Alan Willett
